The Isle of Wight Beacon – the Island's daily news sport and weather website

News Stories for February 2009


OFT STUDY WELCOME CLAIM OPERATORS
- The cross-Solent operators are insisting they'll welcome an investigation into prices and services.
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SILVER FOR SHANKLIN SWIMMING POOL MAN
- A Shanklin-based swimming pool installer has won an accolade.
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TV STAR'S MEDINA VISIT
- Sooty is heading to the Mars, via Newport.   He’ll be joined by Sweep, Soo and Richard Cadell, in a performance of Sooty in Space at the Medina Theatre, tomorrow night.
Read more about - TV STAR'S MEDINA VISIT
ALCOHOL SCHEME GOES EAST
- The Isle of Wight Council, Hampshire Constabulary and off-licences are tackling alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in Sandown and Shanklin, from 27 February.  
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3.5% RISE AGREED
- Council tax will rise by 3.5% under a new Isle of Wight Council budget that’s been approved. 
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NEW FERRIES SET SAIL
- Two controversial new ferries are sailing on Wightlink's Lymington to Yarmouth route.
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ISLANDEXPO IN COWES
- The second annual IslandExpo Catering and Hospitality Exhibition takes place today and tomorrow at the Cowes Haven Events Centre.
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GUITAR LED HEADLINERS FOR IW FESTIVAL
- Welsh Rockers the Stereophonics will return to the Isle of Wight Festival this year, as Saturday night headliners. They first appeared in 2004. They'll be joined by Razorlight, who have also played the event before, in 2005.  The festival takes place in Seaclose Park in June.
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THANKS FOR PRISON'S FAMILY WORKERS
- Family workers from the Visitors Centre at Camphill Prison in Newport have been awarded certificates recognising their work with the families of inmates.
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SHROVE TUESDAY CELEBRATIONS
- Yarmouth Carnival Committee's annual Pancake Day Races take place today.
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CHAIN FERRY DISRUPTION
- The Cowes Chain Ferry will be out of service between 10am and 1pm, on Tuesday.  A sea lift is being moved from the JS Whites yard.  A foot passenger launch will be provided, but motorists will be diverted through Newport.
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VENDEE GLOBE SUCCESS FOR IW SAILOR
- Island sailor Brian Thompson is back on dry land, after almost 100 days at sea. 
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CRIME FIGHTING SCHEMES IN RYDE
- Ryde’s Safer Neighbourhoods Team has joined forces with local residents, to create ten new Neighbourhood Watch schemes.
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LATEST BLUE HOARDING DESIGNS REVEALED The hub of the developments in East Cowes.
- The latest bid to disguise the blue hoardings in East Cowes will be unveiled today. 
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FESTIVAL FAVOURITE ANNOUNCED AS CURATORS
- The Charlatans will return to the Isle of Wight Festival for 2009, it's been revealed.  
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FINES AND WARNINGS IN COUNCIL CRACKDOWN
- The IW council’s been cracking down on dog fouling and litter dropping. 
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WEST WIGHT CRIME FIGURES
- Reported crime has fallen in the West Wight, according to the Hampshire Constabulary. 
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HAVE YOUR SAY ON HEALTHCARE
- It’s being billed as a new initiative to give Islanders more of a say in how local health services are run. 
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MORE PARKING NEEDED IN COWES SAY LOCALS Esplanade parking isnt permitted during Cowes Week.
- The lack of parking and youth facilities remain the two biggest problems in Cowes.  That’s the finding of a meeting of the town’s Safer Neighbourhoods Team, which took place last month. 
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CHALLENGE FOR CARDIAC CHARITY
- The Wessex Heartbeat charity, which is based at the Cardiac Centre at Southampton General Hospital, is to benefit from a 20-mile mountain bike ride, a 3-mile open canoe, and an 8-mile run, this summer. 
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BE MY DISCO VALENTINE Fireworks, Sandown Carnival 2008.
- Sandown Youth Club is holding a Valentine's Day disco, tonight. 
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BUS STOPS BAD DRIVING
- Southern Vectis and the Isle of Wight Council have been working together to crack road safety. 
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ALAN RICKMAN AT A-LIST MINGHELLA TRIBUTE
- The Island’s Young Chamber is organising a Movie Marathon for next month in memory of Islander and acclaimed director Anthony Minghella, who died last year.  Actor Alan Rickman has already confirmed his attendance, and more celebrities are expected.
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WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?
- Women are being encouraged to go it alone in business, at an event in Cowes today.  Business Link is running a free one day event called ‘What’s stopping you?’. 
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BRADING'S BANDED SNAILS MARK DARWIN BICENTENARY
- To mark the 2009 bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of ‘On the Origin of Species’ a project is getting underway at Brading Roman Villa. 
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DON'T BE CAUGHT OUT BY TV SWITCH
- If you still watch television via an aerial on your roof, work on the Isle of Wight's Rowridge transmitter could affect you from next month. 
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ISLAND MP IS PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE
- Isle of Wight Conservatives have re-selected Andrew Turner as the man who will fight the next general election, for the party.  
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MORE WEATHER PROBLEMS DURING WINTER STORM
- As snow turned to rain across the Isle of Wight on Monday, flooding caused overnight chaos.
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COWES TO MARK ST GEORGE'S DAY
- Cowes is planning to celebrate St George’s Day in style.  The town will spring into life on 24 April, with a concert at the Yacht Haven.
Read more about - COWES TO MARK ST GEORGE'S DAY
PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION LAUNCHED
- Could you be the Island’s very own David Bailey?

A Newport-based photographic company has launched a competition to find the best image for 2008/2009
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TENANTS QUESTIONED OVER IW SERVICE
- Housing association tenants on the Isle of Wight are being given the chance to have their say. 
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TV STAR'S MEDINA VISIT Sooty will be joined by his friends.
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Sooty is heading to Mars, via Newport.   He’ll be joined by Sweep, Soo and Richard Cadell, in a performance of Sooty in Space at the Medina Theatre, on 28 February.

Read more about - TV STAR'S MEDINA VISIT
MUSIC GIG FOR YOUTH CHARITY
- The Isle of Wight Youth Trust is celebrating 25 years of helping young people on the Island. 
Read more about - MUSIC GIG FOR YOUTH CHARITY
NO EASY WALK FOR ILLUSIONIST'S LAUNCH Aaron in action.
- On 9 May, Newport Quay will host an illusionist and urban artist as they perform a dramatic stunt. 
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BUSY 2008 FOR IW RNLI
- The Island’s RNLI volunteers have had another busy year.  According to the charity’s latest figures, Bembridge and Yarmouth both had busier 2008, that in the previous 12 months. 
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STOP THE BUS - IT'S TIME FOR LUNCH The Cooking Bus.
- Minestrone Soup and Cheesy Vegetable Parcels will be on the menu, when the Cooking Bus parks up at Cowes Primary School this week.  Pupils will be taught how to make a host of tasty dishes, alongside their parents and teachers.
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SNOW WIGHT MARKS START OF FEB
- Snow fell across the Isle of Wight on Sunday night, and more was predicted for Tuesday. 
Read more about - SNOW WIGHT MARKS START OF FEB